Adjustable screen



H. E. BECKER ADJUSTABLE SCREEN Filed Oct. 18. 1946 Oct. 18, 1949.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 18, 1949 i Henry Eric Becker,

Chicago, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to George E. Gagnier Application October 18, 1946,Serial No. 704,006 4 Claims. (01. 209-394) This invention relates toadjustable screens and has for its object to provide a screen of simpleand rugged construction which can be quickly and easily adjusted touniformly vary the size of the screen openings.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said tocomprise the screen as illustrated in the accompanying drawingshereinafter described and particularly set forth in the appended claims,together with such variations and modifications thereof as will beapparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the screen embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the screen bars;

,Fig. 3 is a side screen bars;

- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the screen, showing thenormal arrangement of the bars; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the screen, showingthe bars compressed against one another to reduce the size of the screenopenings, and

Figs. 6, '7, and 8 are fragmentary views showing different arrangementsand forms of protuberances that may be employed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the screen of the presentinvention is provided with a rectangular frame composed of end bars l Iand I2 and channel shaped side bars [3 and I l. The side bars l3 and Mare permanently and rigidly connected to the end bar II and detachablyconnected to the end bar l2, the side bars having inwardly projectingflanges l5 along their upper and lower edges. The side bars I 3 and Mare also provided with longitudinal slots l6 opening to the free endsthereof to receive reduced ends I! of the end bar [2 which is thusslidably mounted in the side bars l3 and M for adjustment toward or awayfrom the end bar H.

The screen is formed by bars I8 and I9 in the form of elongated platesformed of resilient and flexible material such as sheet metal which aresupported on edge in parallel relation upon the flanges l5 of the sidebars and between the end bars H and !2 The screen bar It has spacedtransverse rows of protuberances 20 and the bars l9 have spacedtransverse rows of protuberances 2], The rows of protuberances in bothbars are elevation of another of the uniformly spaced and theprotuberances of the bars l8 are so disposed that when the bars aremounted in the frame the protuberances 20 are positioned midway betweenthe protuberances'ZI of the plates 19. The screen bars [8 and I9 arespaced apart throughout the screen by the protuberances 2B and 2|, beingplaced with their protuberances facing in the same direction and withthe bars l8 alternating with the bars l9 throughout the screen, asclearly shown in Figs.

4 and 5. The bars l8 and I9 may be cut from a single strip of sheetmaterial having protuberances formed at regularly spaced intervals, thestrip being cut to provide bars with protuberances at differentdistances from the ends thereof. As herein illustrated the bars iii areformed by cutting the strip through spaced rows of protuberances whilethe bars iii are formed by cutting the strip midway between the rows ofprotuberances.

Adjacent the inner ends of the longitudinal slots it each of the sidebars l3 and M has a bracket 22 which carries a bolt 23 that extendsparallel with the adjacent slot and throughthe projecting end ll of theend bar l2. Nuts 24 on the outer ends of the bolts 23 provide means forapplying a varying pressure to the end bar I2 and I to move it bodilytoward the opposite end bar ll of the screen. Plates forming the screenbars are resilient and flexible so that when pressure is applied to thescreen bars in a direction tending to force them closer together, thebars will flex about the points of the protuberances 20 and 2| as theend bar I2 is moved toward the opposite end bar ll of the screen. Thisflexing of the screen bars reduces the size of the openings through thescreen, as is shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Because of their resiliency the screen bars when compressed form apowerful spring acting upon the end bar I 2 to hold the end bar tightlyagainst the nuts 24 so that when the'nuts are adjusted outwardly on thebolts 23 the screen body will expand toward its original orv normalposition and enlarge the screen openings.

The form and arrangement of spacing protuberances can be varied. Thenumber of protuberances in the transverse rows may be greater or lessthan shown in Figs. 2 and 3. For example, two protuberances 25 may beprovided as shown in Fig. 6 or a single protuberance 28 may be employedinstead of a row of protuberances as shown in Fig. '7. In some instancesit may be desirable to provide transversely elongated protuberances 21such as shown in Fig. 8.

It will be apparent that the present invention provides a screen ofrugged and durable construction which can be quickly and easily adjustedto uniformly vary the size of the screen openings.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the specificdevices herein shown and described for purposes of illustration, may bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A screen comprising a frame having parallel side bars, a series ofscreen bars in the form of elongated resilient plates mounted on edgeside by side in said frame with their ends slidable on said side bars,said plates being spaced by protuberances on the individual plates thatare uniformly spaced longitudinally of the plates and that engage withflat portions of adjacent plates intermediate the protuberances thereofto define openings for the passage of screenings, and means for applyinga variable pressure to said plates in the direction of their slidingmovement to flex the same about said protuberances and vary the size 01'said openings.

2. A screen comprising a frame having parallel end bars and parallelside bars having longitudinal slots adjacent one end, one end bar beingadjustable and slidable in said slots, screws connecting said adjustableend bar to said side bars for shifting said end bar in said slots and anend bar fixed to the opposite ends of said side bars, and a screen bodycomprising bars in the form of elongated resilient plates disposed onedge parallel to said end bars and between the same with their endsslidable on said side bars, said plates being spaced apart byprotuberances on the individual plates that are spaced longitudinally ofthe plates, the protuberances of successive plates being staggered sothat the protuberances of one .plate engage with flat portions ofanother plate to define openings for the passage of screenings, saidplates being bendable about said protuberances to vary the size of saidopenings when said adjustable end bar is shifted by said screws.

3. A screen comprising a frame having par- 4 allel side bars, a seriesof screen bars in the form of elongated resilient sheet metal platesmounted on edge side by side in said frame with their ends slidable onsaid side bars, said plates being spaced apart by protuberances on theindividual plates that are arranged in transverse rows spacedlongitudinally of the plates, the protuberances of intermediate platesbeing disposed between the protuberances of contiguous plates, the flatfaces of the plates and said protuberances defining openings for thepassage of screenings, and means for applying a variable pressure tosaid plates in the direction of their sliding movement to flex the sameabout said protuberances and vary the size of said openings.

4. A screen comprising a frame having parallel side bars, a series ofscreen bars in the form of elongated resilient sheet metal platesmounted on edge side by side in said frame with their ends slidable onsaid side bars, said plates being spaced by protuberances on theindividual plates that are uniformly spaced longitudinally of the platesand that engage with flat portions of adjacent plates to define openingsfor the passage of screenings, alternate plates being identical and theintermediate plates havin protuberances positioned midway between theprotuberances of said alternate plates, and means for applying avariable pressure to said plates in the direction of their slidingmovement to flex the same about said protuberances and vary the size ofsaid openings.

- HENRY ERIC BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,976 Zeyen Dec. 28. 1880319,486 Haywood June 19, 1885 1,238,102 Cahall Aug. 28, 1917 2,261,771Laubenstein Nov. 4,1941

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 527,259 Great Britain Oct. 4, 1940

